Latest news

The political situation in Moldova
Moldova's prime minister resigns suddenly

Moldova's prime minister Alexandru Munteanu is resigning after only eight months in office, Bloomberg reports. The announcement comes after corruption was revealed within a state-owned air traffic control company, which has led to a major scandal.

Munteanu was not involved in the affair himself, but states that he can no longer exercise his office based on his "principles and beliefs". He did not specify his sudden resignation in more detail.

Munteanu's defection comes at a time when Moldova is experiencing a deep political crisis. The corruption scandal has increased pressure on the incumbent president Maia Sandu and her EU-friendly government. Several believe that the crisis could complicate the country's application for EU membership and that pro-Russian voices could gain a stronger grip on politics, writes Reuters.

NATO's future
Trump: Ridiculous for the US to maintain NATO relationship

US President Donald Trump is once again expressing frustration with the European NATO countries. In a post on Truth social, the president writes that it is "ridiculous" for the US to maintain its "unilateral" relationship with the defense alliance.

"They were not there for us," the president writes without specifying what he is referring to.

Trump has on several occasions criticized NATO countries for not helping the US in the war in Iran.

Japanese gender equality
Maternity leave mayor sparks major debate in Japan

35-year-old Shoko Kawata has made history as Japan's first mayor to take parental leave, writes the BBC. The decision has received much attention and led to national debate.

Some believe that Kawata, who leads the small town of Tawata outside Kyoto, is an example of putting family first, and that her decision could pave the way for more women to get involved in politics. But others say her decision is irresponsible and that she should not have taken on the role of mayor if she was also planning to have children.

Kawata says she is surprised by the extent of the debate. She also doesn't give much to the criticism.

- If we criticize politicians who take parental leave, we are effectively excluding all women between 20 and 40 from public office, she says.

Changes in the Catholic Church
Pope expels conservative priests - ordained their own bishops

Pope Leo XIV excommunicates the Catholic breakaway group the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), reports the AP. This after the group opposed the pope and ordained four of its own bishops.

The pope states that the society has entered into schism and is therefore now excluded from the Catholic community. The SSPX is very conservative and has opposed a modernization of the Catholic Church. The group has been at odds with the Holy See for several decades.

More than 15,000 people attended the controversial episcopal ordination in Switzerland earlier this week. According to the AP, the group has around half a million followers.